Police: Man killed 2 sons, himself at wife's home

A South Florida man killed two of his sons early Saturday before killing himself at his estranged wife's home, police said.

The Associated Press

BOYNTON BEACH — A South Florida man killed two of his sons early Saturday before killing himself at his estranged wife's home, police said.

Officers were called at 1:50 a.m. to the Boynton Beach home of Victoria Flores Zavala, who had been separated for some time from her husband, Isidro Zavala, police spokeswoman Stephanie Slater said.

Victoria Zavala told detectives that she was watching TV when she heard a commotion. She went to check on the boys and saw Zavala, dressed all in black, choking one of them.

She tried fighting off Isidro Zavala, begging him to kill her and not the children, Slater said.

"He told her she was going to stay alive and suffer the loss of them," Slater said.

Police identified the children as 12-year-old Eduardo Zavala and 11-year-old Mario Zavala. One boy was found dead in a screened patio area, and the other was in the kitchen.

Both boys had been strangled with a rope, Slater said.

Zavala was discovered in the kitchen with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He had shot Mario several times before turning the gun on himself, Slater said.

The couple also has a 19-year-old son, who does not live at the home.

Detectives obtained a search warrant for the home, as well as another house where Isidro Zavala had been living.

In Victoria Zavala's home, investigators found a bag containing a second gun and extra ammunition, duct tape and cutting shears. They also found in the bag an emotional note to the couple's oldest son, and a second note was found at Isidro Zavala's home, Slater said.

The slayings were reported to Florida's Department of Children and Families. There was no history of domestic violence or abuse reported at Victoria Zavala's home, police said.